Tickets for Not Stopping for School Buses

When do you stop for a school bus? Get it wrong and you could get a $430 ticket in Washington State. Many drivers get it wrong on two lane roads. If you’re driving on a two lane road, cars coming from both directions must stop when the school bus puts out its stop signal or has red lights flashing.

If you’re on a road with three or more lanes, you need to stop if you’re traveling in the same direction as the bus. If you’re traveling in the opposite direction, you can keep going.

If you are on a road with a turn lane in the middle, cars going in the same direction should stop. Cars going the opposite direction do not need to stop.

If there is a median or an island between the opposing directions, traffic going the same direction as the bus needs to stop. Opposing traffic does not.

You are not allowed to resume driving until the red lights stop flashing and the stop bar is retracted.

Remember that some school buses now have cameras that will catch you in the act.